A review by mollyfmurphy
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Overall, a smartly crafted story with flawed, interesting characters that will keep you invested. The writing and stylistic choices felt clunky and forced at times, and were often more distracting than they were successful in developing a voice for the characters. 

The handling of Dickie’s sexuality felt all wrong to me; it came out of nowhere in a way that felt totally unrealistic, though it did eventually sort of level out and of course ends up being a driving force in his motivation.


The introduction of other characters’ perspectives in the final pages of the novel felt like a cheap device to make for an overly dramatic ending, though I’ll admit it keeps you reading.
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